Chapter Fifty-Nine
The sun was sinking outside. A cool breeze drifted in, dispelling the oppressive heat of the day. It should have been the most pleasant time of day, yet fine sweat had gathered along the bridge of Cui Lanyin’s nose.
Three months had passed. Since Prince Wei had not mentioned the matter even once, the two of them continued to interact as they always had—as uncle and niece. Cui Lanyin had also moved past her initial nervousness and awkwardness.
She no longer thought about marriage. She felt that maintaining their current state—neither advancing nor retreating—was best. Since Prince Wei did not bring it up, she pretended she had forgotten about it as well.
She had not expected him to say, at a time like this, “Are you going to let me take it back?”
So he had never forgotten after all.
When she failed to answer for some time, Prince Wei did not press her. He took her hand and placed it against his forehead. “Let me cool off for a while.”
She had massaged the space between his brows, tied back his hair, and wiped his hands countless times without ever feeling anything strange. They were all more or less the same actions, yet now that he had taken her hand and made her do them, everything felt entirely different.
The faint fragrance of bamboo clung to him, filling her every breath. Because he only liked natural scents, she had asked Cui Sheng to prepare a special bamboo-and-nanmu incense for him.
The elegant, delicate fragrance lingered beneath her nose, making her feel light-headed and unable to respond properly. Cui Lanyin’s fingertips trembled, and her words came out unevenly. “Uncle… shall I bring you a cold cloth?”
Prince Wei’s other hand curved loosely around her waist, trapping her between his knees. “This is fine.”
With his hand hovering at her waist, as though holding her but not quite holding her, all of Cui Lanyin’s thoughts became focused on that spot. She did not dare move at all.
She was furious with herself for being so useless. Other people might be timid outside but domineering at home. She, on the other hand, was known as the fierce Cui Second out in the world, yet in front of Prince Wei, she could not withstand even one round.
Fortunately, Prince Wei made no further advances. Instead, he said, “It is another year at most—perhaps only half a year.”
He had turned to serious matters, pulling Cui Lanyin out of her daze.
Realizing that he was saying Emperor Xuanning had only six months to a year left to live, Cui Lanyin let out a quiet breath. That was longer than she had expected. Judging by his condition over the past few days, she had thought he might not last more than a few days.
Ignoring as best she could the hand still resting at her waist, she said, “Then you still have time to make your arrangements.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them and looked at Prince Wei. No matter what, Emperor Xuanning was Prince Wei’s father. At a time like this, she should not have sounded so indifferent, caring only about whether he had enough time to complete his plans.
“It doesn’t matter.” Prince Wei rubbed his forehead against her palm. “I’m only standing by and watching coldly myself.”
Though he said that, Cui Lanyin knew his heart was not as calm as he made it seem.
Otherwise, he would not have spoken to her that way the moment he entered.
Unlike other people, whose childhood memories gradually blurred until they were forgotten, the memories from before he was six remained vivid in his mind.
Before he was five, Emperor Xuanning had been a good father to him. He had been the son his father cherished above all else. Then, after he turned five, Emperor Xuanning had become ruthlessly cold and heartless toward him.
Even adults could not bear such a stark division. How had a child of five or six managed to survive it?
Cui Lanyin began stroking his forehead of her own accord. “It isn’t because you’re unfilial. He’s simply too cold-hearted.”
“He actually wants to be buried with my mother.” Prince Wei gave a mocking laugh.
“Hasn’t Grand-Aunt already been buried in the Yan City Consort’s Mausoleum?”
“He wants to move her out.”
“You refused. He won’t do anything to harm you, will he?”
“You knew I wouldn’t agree?”
“I know you. Even with a blade at your throat, you wouldn’t agree.”
“Only you know me that well.”
His arm suddenly tightened around her waist, encircling her slender waist. There was only the width of a palm between them. Heat surged and churned in the narrow space, and Cui Lanyin’s face flushed crimson. She felt as though a great fire would consume her if this continued.
She wanted to put some distance between them, but even her fingertips had gone soft and could not summon the slightest strength. Besides, Prince Wei gave her no chance to retreat. His other hand took hers from his forehead, but instead of releasing it, he enclosed it completely within his palm.
“I don’t want to be left all alone.”
“You have me and the Empress Dowager,” Cui Lanyin replied, digging her nails into her palm to keep herself clearheaded.
She did not understand how such an ordinary sentence could affect him so deeply. After spending so much time together, how could she not know that someone with his temperament would never compromise?
“It’s not the same.” Prince Wei would not let her evade the matter.
“Didn’t I promise I wouldn’t leave?” Cui Lanyin said softly, her eyes darting away from his.
“First, one year. We’ll try living together for a year. If it doesn’t work out…” Prince Wei’s voice deepened. “After that, whatever kind of life you want, I’ll help you achieve it.”
“Uncle?”
“Will you agree?”
A year. Emperor Xuanning had, at most, another year to live. If Prince Wei succeeded in ascending to that position, then he likely would not need her companionship anymore. And she had no desire to enter a place that could change people until they no longer recognized themselves. In that case, they could naturally part ways.
But if he failed and ended up wandering the world, she would accompany him no matter what.
Faced with a Prince Wei like this, she could not bring herself to refuse. Steeling herself, she gave a soft reply. “Yes. I’ll stay with you, Uncle.”
“This kind of staying is not the same as the other kind. You understand that, don’t you?”
Cui Lanyin suddenly felt unbearably dry-mouthed. Her lips parted and closed several times, but she could not force out a single word.
All at once, hurried footsteps sounded outside the study, followed by Qinglin’s voice. “My lord, the Empress Dowager sent word that something may have happened in the palace. She wants you to go in and keep watch.”
His words instantly scattered the intimate atmosphere inside the study. Cui Lanyin hurriedly slipped out of Prince Wei’s arms. “Go on, Uncle.”
“Mm.” Prince Wei acknowledged her, then called toward the door, “Wait there.”
After hearing Qinglin answer, “Yes,” Cui Lanyin relaxed. Nothing was wrong, but at that moment she felt too timid to face anyone.
When she looked again, she realized Buyan had somehow slipped away as well, and she felt a little more at ease.
Fortunately, Prince Wei had not yet changed clothes when he returned. Cui Lanyin straightened his headpiece and smoothed the brocade robe he was wearing. These were things she normally did whenever she happened to see him, but now they had become difficult and awkward. What should have taken only a few quick movements took her two full circles around him, because she refused to stand too close.
Prince Wei, however, was determined not to let her off so easily. The instant she finished and was about to step away, he pulled her before him and asked, “Will you wait for me?”
“Mm.” Just as Cui Lanyin was about to breathe a sigh of relief, her vision darkened. He had already leaned close, and something warm brushed across her forehead. Realizing what it was, Cui Lanyin could not stop herself from shivering.
“Are you afraid?” Prince Wei murmured beside her ear.
With nowhere left to retreat, and unwilling to let him have the upper hand forever, Cui Lanyin gathered her courage and looked up. “I know. You said this kind of staying is not the other kind!”
Prince Wei let out a soft, amused laugh. Cui Lanyin had never seen him smile so openly and effortlessly. She suddenly felt that, for the sake of seeing him change like this, agreeing was worth it.
Prince Wei tucked the strand of hair that had fallen against her cheek behind her ear, then stepped back before she could tense up again. “Cui Second, I’ll be waiting.”
He did not look at her again. Turning, he left the study with Qinglin and the others, departed Prince Wei’s residence, and headed for the palace.
Cui Lanyin remained standing in the middle of the study for a long while. Even then, she still felt as though she were caught in a dream.
She could not imagine what their relationship would become once Prince Wei returned.
Though she had experienced the stirrings of first love with Tan Shao, the two of them had always interacted like brother and sister. Even secretly exchanging glances was enough to make her blush, and the only time they had ever been alone together was when Tan Shao had come to her home.
Prince Wei, however, treated propriety as though it meant nothing. Recalling his earlier actions, Cui Lanyin hurriedly shook her head, casting aside the jumble of wild imaginings in her mind.
This time, Prince Wei had entered the palace and had not come back out. He had only sent Chilin to deliver a message: he would not be allowed to leave for the time being, and Cui Lanyin should also refrain from going to Funing Palace. As for anything else she wished to do, she need not hold back.
After hearing Prince Wei’s words—and knowing that Emperor Xuanning had at least another six months to live and that nothing serious was likely to happen—Cui Lanyin continued living as usual in Prince Wei’s residence. Whenever she had free time, she would spend half a day at her family home, and she did not feel lonely in the slightest.
Because of Hong Ji and Tan Shao, the Cui family’s main branch and the Tan family were both somewhat worried. They feared that if something happened to Emperor Xuanning, the announcement of the examination results would be delayed, which would in turn postpone next year’s metropolitan examination.
Prince Wei had been in the palace for five days now, yet there was still no sign of his return. Cui Lanyin began to grow concerned.
At a time like this, the slightest negligence in any one place could ruin everything.
She was not afraid that Prince Wei would lose. As long as he could leave the palace safe and whole, the vast jianghu would be his to roam.
What she feared was that he would become trapped inside and never make it out. If Prince Wei were to disappear from the world, then even if what she felt for him was not romantic love between a man and a woman, she would never be able to live well afterward.
On the twenty-fourth day of the eighth month, an inner attendant responsible for guarding the second gate came to report, “A Madam Dong has come to see Second Miss. From the way she speaks, she sounds very familiar with you.”
Was it Lady Dong? Cui Lanyin had invited her several times, but Lady Dong had always refused to come to Prince Wei’s residence. Why had she come on her own this time?
Cui Lanyin hurriedly said, “Show her in at once.”
The last time they had gone to Tianfu Temple to pray for a blessing tablet for Hong Ji, she had invited Lady Dong along. At the time, Lady Dong had said that someone had proposed a marriage match to her family, and they were preparing to choose a day for her to meet the prospective groom. Could it be that her marriage now had some real prospects?
Cui Lanyin, accompanied by Aiye, went out to greet her at the second gate. Lady Dong, however, was no longer as carefree as she had been that day. A trace of worry clouded her face as she came over and took Cui Lanyin’s hand.
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
Cui Lanyin hurriedly led her to the eastern side room of Yian Hall, where they used it as a sitting room, and invited her to sit on the couch. “There’s no one else here. Tell me whatever it is.”
The matter was too serious for Lady Dong to waste time on pleasantries. She went straight to the point.
“People outside are saying that His Majesty has been held hostage. Someone—I don’t know which prince—is using the excuse of rescuing His Majesty to persuade the commander of the Left Tiger Guards to attack the palace at an appointed time. My father told me to come and inform you immediately. If it is Prince Wei, my father will charge in with him. If it is not, then whatever Prince Wei plans to do, my father will cooperate.”
Only then did Cui Lanyin remember that Lady Dong’s father, Dong Cheng, was the assistant commander of the Left Tiger Guards. He had built up his influence there for more than twenty years, and within the Left Tiger Guards, his word carried more weight than that of the commander and assistant commander who had come after him.
Cui Lanyin knew perfectly well that Prince Wei would never stoop to forcing his way into the palace. Not daring to delay, she immediately called for Chiyun and Chiyue and told them what had happened. Chiyun set off at once to find someone who could take a message to Prince Wei in the palace.
Fearing that Cui Lanyin might be frightened, Chiyue reassured her. “His Highness has always been meticulous in everything he does. Second Miss, please rest assured.”
Now that the situation had reached the point where the tension was drawn as tight as a bowstring, Cui Lanyin was no longer afraid.
Her heart was filled with both gratitude and guilt. “Sister Dong, aren’t you worried that your family might choose the wrong person and be dragged into the consequences afterward?”
Lady Dong smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. “My father said that, after the several times Prince Wei stood up for you, he is the best among all the princes. The commander has already agreed to help that other prince, so the Left Tiger Guards can’t escape involvement no matter what. Since that’s the case, my father naturally wants to stand with someone he approves of.”
She took Cui Lanyin’s hand and spoke candidly. “Don’t worry. After all these years of building up his influence, my father has a way out even if things go badly. Our family can go west.”
By then, going west would mean starting over from scratch. The whole family would have to live under assumed names. How could that possibly be easy?
Cui Lanyin had never imagined that merely offering a word of help and maintaining her relationship with Lady Dong would earn the Dong family such a tremendous return.
She clasped Lady Dong’s hand in return. “If things go wrong, His Highness has a way out as well. When that time comes, we’ll leave together.”
Lady Dong nodded. “Then there’s even less to fear.”
About an hour later, Chiyun returned. “His Highness already knows. He sent word that he will have someone find Assistant Commander Dong. Second Miss, you may rest assured.”
It was not a good time to remain outside for long. Lady Dong also had to return home to make preparations for both possibilities, so she quickly took her leave.
As she watched Lady Dong depart, Cui Lanyin felt even more that Cui Chang was a man without good fortune. His wife’s family had not drawn close to him; instead, they had sought out an outsider.
Back then, Cui Mian had chosen Lady Dong as a wife for Cui Chang precisely because of Dong Cheng’s experience in the Left Tiger Guards. Cui Chang, however, had been determined to make a name for himself elsewhere, believing there was no opportunity for advancement in Yingcheng. Although Dong Cheng was only a fifth-rank assistant commander of the capital guards, he could still have arranged for Cui Chang to enter one of the capital’s imperial armies as a clerk of the eighth rank or higher and work his way up. Cui Chang had looked down on that path, however, and devoted himself to finding connections elsewhere.
The Dong family must have seen that Cui Chang was not a steady or reliable man, and naturally had no intention of fawning on someone who did not value them.
After what had happened that day, Cui Lanyin decided that, within the limits of her ability, she would form more good relationships in the future.
